Sensex closes at over two-week low on global headwinds

Mumbai : Domestic equities stayed depressed for the second straight day today with the benchmark BSE Sensex dropping 43 points to close at its lowest level in more than two weeks as renewed concerns over the health of Chinese economy continued to batter global stocks.

Earlier, the market opened in the green amid across-the- board value-buying in realty, power and oil&gas stocks.

However, equities later pared gains on continued sell-off in Asian and European markets, which fell for the second day on Chinese concerns and tensions in the Middle East.

Also, caution ahead of the third quarter earnings starting next week kept the market range-bound.

Good bouts of buying was seen in metal, oil&gas, realty, utilities and consumer durable segments, but was let down by selling as market players preferred to stay on the sidelines.

The 30-share BSE Sensex resumed higher at 25,744.70 and advanced to the day’s high of 25,766.76. However, after swinging between gains and losses, it finally settled 43.01 points or 0.17 per cent down at 25,580.34 — its lowest close since December 18 when it had closed at 25,519.22.

The gauge had plunged by 537.55 points on the first day of the week.

The NSE Nifty after recapturing the 7,800-mark in early trade to touch a high of 7,831.20 concluded 6.65 points or 0.09 per cent down at 7,784.65.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley statement on more private investment in railways and airport sectors also did not provide any support.

Coal India was the worst Sensex performer by tumbling 1.35 per cent, followed by SBI at 1.22 per cent.

On the other side of the spectrum, Tata Steel, GAIL, Asian Paints, ONGC, RIL, BHEL and ICICI Bank provided some relief.

Elsewhere, most Asian markets ended lower amid renewed worries on China and how its regulators would address the market volatility. European equities were also trading lower in their early deals.